Now – Just Hold On One Minute Here…
April 26, 2008 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
(”Listen” for the rationalizations…)
It says: “Happiness Is Not The Point”
And I can somewhat agree.
“I don’t think happiness or unhappiness is the point. How do we learn from the problems we face?”
Which makes sense unless my negative mind works it into “Everything I face is a problem” therefore I’m “learning 24/7 and I’m sick of it!”
Moving on – “How do we best learn from them and transmit what we have learned to others, if they would receive the knowledge?”
Well, that is the deal…
“In my search to be happy, I changed jobs, married and divorced, took geographical cures, and ran myself into debt – financially, emotionally and spiritually.”
Oh, heck no! Is there something wrong with these things? Changed jobs? Damn right! Married? Damn right? Divorced? He** no! Geographical cures? Nope. Ran myself into all those debts? You betcha!
“In A.A., I’m learning to grow up. Instead of demanding that people, places and things make me happy, I can ask God for self-acceptance.”
So – I demanded eh? Maybe I don’t think so. Uh huh – well, each time I attempted to wrest control of a situation, that was a form of demand. When I couldn’t control it, that was unacceptable and I re-discovered restless, irritable and discontent (many times).
“When a problem overwhelms me, A.A.’s Twelve Steps will help me grow through the pain. The knowledge I gain can be a gift to others who suffer with the same problem.”
I’ve got to help you too? Come on, I’ve had enough pain, thank you! What? You’re in pain too? Allow me to rescue you – huh? I have to keep growing through the pain to help you learn? And, then I don’t have to drink? I get to feel good enough about me? Oh, well then, okay…
As Bill said, “When pain comes, we are expected to learn from it willingly, and help others to learn. When happiness comes, we accept it as a gift, and thank God for it.”
There you go with those expectations again, Bill. Happiness is a gift? Do you mean to say I’m not entitled to happiness??? Wow, lots of folks will be let down by that!
